Litter Box
What do I do if my kitten is not urinating or defecating on her own?
Extremely young kittens under 8 weeks of age may need to be stimulated to urinate/defecate. Mom cat would do this, and you may need to do this for them by using a soft cloth or a little toilet tissue moistened with warm water. Gently rub the cloth/tissue in a tickling motion over the urogenital region and anus to stimulate them. If your kitten is older, this should not be necessary, and if they’re having problems going to the bathroom at that age, they need to be seen by a vet.
How do I train my kitten to use a litter box?
Put them in the box immediately after eating or drinking. Mimic digging motions with your hands. Keep food in close proximity to the litter box while feeding initially.
- Kitten attract litter
Is one litter box enough for my kitten?
One box per kitten, plus one--is the rule! This means a minimum of two boxes for one kitten or 11 boxes for 10 kittens. You should also have at least one litter box on every story of your house. That means a 3 story house gets 3 litter boxes for one kitten. Follow whichever rule of litter boxes is a greater number!
How big should the litter box be?
Ultimately, you want a box that is as big and deep as possible! Everything you read here is based on research by feline behaviorists. Kittens prefer a lot of space so they can choose a new site each time, because they are very clean animals. However, you’ll need to ensure the sides of the box are low enough to allow the kitten to get into and out of the box easily.
- Pet Supermarket IRIS open top litter box
- The length of pans should be at least one and one-half times the length of the kitten
- Lowes large plastic storage containers
- Place lid behind the box to protect the wall, and cut an opening for your kitten to enter and exit
- Walmart child’s small plastic swimming pool
- This may seem excessive but kittens love the huge space. Perfect for multi-kitten households
Where should I put the litterbox?
Choose a site that is private but easily accessible. Make sure that no humans or other kittens will block the entrance. The box should be on a tile or wood floor. If carpet is the only option, then place a large piece of plastic under the box so no litter can spill on the carpet, which can lead to kittens eliminating on the carpet. Location is everything! Kittens prefer a quiet, safe, private place to potty, just like we do. It is important for the kitten to never be interrupted or frightened by noise or activity near the box. At the same time, it should be close enough to be convenient. Two entrances and exits to the room where the box is located is ideal if you have multiple kittens.
- Purr-Fect Paws Litter Mat for Cats
- A commercially available mat to put under the box
- Merry Pet Cat Washroom
- An attractive, enclosed litter box for open living areas
Should the litterbox have a cover on it?
This is a matter of preference for the kitten. Most kittens prefer open. If you would like to have a cover, provide one box with a cover and one without. If you are lucky, your kitten will use the covered one just as much as the uncovered. The larger the covered box, the more likely your kitten will use it.
- Catit Jumbo Hooded cat litter pan
- Booda Dome Cleanstep Cat Box
- The advantage of a covered box is that some of them are designed to look like furniture so they are less obvious to visitors
What type of litter should I use?
Most kittens (AND parents) prefer litter that clumps and is the consistency of sand, so you should try these first. There are also clay, granular, recycled paper, silica beads, grain based, garden soil and other types available.
- Lowes playground sand or construction sand
- These products can be more economical for multi-kitten households, especially if you are using a small swimming pool as a litterbox.
- Precious Cat Ultra Premium Clumping Cat Litter
- Tidy Cats Scoop or Premium Scoop
- Available in pet stores, online and in grocery stores. Has the ability to clump urine into easy to clean balls for scooping
- Arm & Hammer litter deodorizer
- Litter Deodorizer can help control odor for kittens with particularly strong urine
How often should I clean the litterbox?
Every 2 hours up to once a day is ideal, depending on your schedule, the number of kittens you have, and how fastidious your kitten is.
Should I consider getting an automatic litter box?
Automatic self cleaning litter boxes clean the box after each use; however, some kittens require special training to use them. Make sure the manufacturer includes instructions with the product.
- Omega Paw Self-Cleaning Litter Box
- PetSafe Simply Clean Continuous Clean Litter Box